Softball Splits a Pair with Salem State

Salem, Mass. – The Framingham State University softball team took game one of a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader 7-2 over Salem State University before the Vikings rebounded for a 5-2 victory in game two this afternoon.

With the split, the Rams improve to 13-23 on the year and are now 5-7 in the MASCAC, while the Vikings are now 11-19 overall and 6-6 in the conference.

Framingham State jumped on top of the Vikings in the first inning of the opener as the first eight batters reached base. Dayna Marchant (East Bridgewater, Mass.), who had a triple and double in the inning, led off the game with a shot into the right-centerfield gap. After a walk, Tiffanie Marsh (Tewksbury, Mass.) singled in the first two runs of the game. A double by Anna Dziok (Southampton, Mass.) put runners on second and third and a wild pitch scored the third run of the inning. Megan Downing (Hanson, Mass.) then provided the big blow with a two-run home run to deep left that put the Rams up 5-0. Starter Rachael Cyr (Amesbury, Mass.) did not record an out as she was relieved by Meghan Black (Winchendon, Mass.). Cyr was charged with five runs on four hits.  Rachael Desrochers (Westford, Mass.) added an RBI single that made the score 6-0 after one half inning of play.

The Rams made it 7-0 in the third as Marchant added an RBI on a fielder's choice.

The Vikings added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings that made the score 7-2. Jen Crovo (Melrose, Mass.) contributed an RBI single and Chloe Manousos (Lowell, Mass.) doubled into the gap in right-center to drive in Dahlia DeCologero (Woburn, Mass.).

Black allowed two runs (one earned) in seven innings of work for Salem State. Jessica Pietersen (Norton, Mass.) pitched an inning of scoreless relief for Framingham State, while senior Natasha Arseneau (Waltham, Mass.) earned the win, scattering seven hits with three strikeouts.

The Rams once again went up early in the first inning of game two as Dziok plated two runs with a double.

The Vikings tied the game in the bottom of the third as Jess Raymond (Peabody, Mass.) knocked in Crovo with a base hit and after consecutive steals by Raymond, Marisa Sanchez (Framingham, Mass.) produced an RBI with a fielder's choice.

Game one starter Arseneau relieved Pietersen, who allowed two runs on three hits, in the third inning.

Meanwhile, Vikings' starter IIeish Burney (Bristol, Conn.) settled in retiring the Rams in order in the fourth through sixth innings.

In the bottom of the sixth, following a walk and single, DeCologero broke the tie with an RBI double. One out later, Moreno gave Salem State some breathing room with a two-run single to make the score 5-2.

Despite giving up a one-out single in the seventh, Burney retired the Rams to secure her eighth victory of the year.  Burney went the distance, allowing two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. Arseneau took the loss after giving up three runs on three hits in 3.2 innings of work.

Both teams will play Saturday as Salem State ends their regular season on the road in a doubleheader at Fitchburg State beginning at 12:00 PM. Framingham State will play at Bridgewater State in a doubleheader starting at 1:00 PM.   

Release courtesy of SSU Sports Information